1
as in inspires
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promotes
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provokes
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the movie's cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urges
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the pastor continues to encourage the couple to work out their problems in hopes of saving their marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encourages
Haller encourages anyone with an early or strong family history of colon cancer to talk to their doctor and get screened even earlier.
—
Emily McLeod, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
As Adam reenters the dating world, his sister encourages him to view it as a fresh start, and scenic designer Milo Bue visually evokes the idea of a blank slate by employing off-whites and greys for Adam’s studio apartment in New York City.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
This is revealed deep into the movie, when Yasmine is trying to free him from the commission, and encourages him to return to playing jazz piano.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Beyond the food, Cohen encourages South Floridians to get creative with their Seder tables and ceremonies.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
The acidity of mayo reacts with the baking soda and encourages the cake to rise.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The National Weather Service encourages Iowans to practice their tornado safety plans, including moving to a safe space.
—Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
The law also prohibits the development of AI that encourages a person to commit suicide, harm themselves, harm another person or engage in criminal activity.
—Seung Min Kim, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Lord John encourages him to attend a British Army lunch session where Ben’s former commander will be.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Emily McLeod, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
As Adam reenters the dating world, his sister encourages him to view it as a fresh start, and scenic designer Milo Bue visually evokes the idea of a blank slate by employing off-whites and greys for Adam’s studio apartment in New York City.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
This is revealed deep into the movie, when Yasmine is trying to free him from the commission, and encourages him to return to playing jazz piano.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Beyond the food, Cohen encourages South Floridians to get creative with their Seder tables and ceremonies.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
The acidity of mayo reacts with the baking soda and encourages the cake to rise.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The National Weather Service encourages Iowans to practice their tornado safety plans, including moving to a safe space.
—Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
The law also prohibits the development of AI that encourages a person to commit suicide, harm themselves, harm another person or engage in criminal activity.
—Seung Min Kim, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Lord John encourages him to attend a British Army lunch session where Ben’s former commander will be.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourages
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Office storage rarely inspires much emotion, but Audo Copenhagen’s Crescent system gets close.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Vitamin C Super Serum+ promotes a more youthful and healthy-looking complexion by improving the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots, revealing smoother and brighter-looking skin.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The steamy climate, which promotes overgrown plant life, doesn’t help.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At work, Paige (Elle Chapman) punches a coworker who provokes her with truly unkind remarks about her father's death.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
-
What is beauty if not precisely the property that provokes us to abandon all pretense of analytic remove in our desperation to draw closer?—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While a watch urges vigilance and planning, a warning means immediate action is needed to stay safe and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Mars in your sign urges you to be fast and sassy.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump cultivates an aura of unpredictability, but his actions betray certain patterns that are discernible to those who know where to look.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Attendees could also join a breakout session with Run Gen Z, a group that cultivates young Republican candidates for office.—
Gaby Del Valle,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Belber said the event traditionally stimulates the local economy, bringing visitors into hotels, bars, restaurants and retail shops, not to mention the prestige of highlighting the city of Albany in a tournament that draws international broadcast viewers.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Cumin stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, which can relieve bloating and diarrhea.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Team priorities could collide as the concerned Moon in your 11th House of Aspirations nudges reckless Mars in your 5th House of Risks.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This perspective helps explain why small changes in choice environments – nudges such as placing salad bars directly in cafeteria serving lines or listing vegetarian options first on menus – can significantly shift behavior without forcing anyone to choose differently.—
Alejandro Hortal-Sánchez,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ongoing feedback also fosters open communication and shows that managers are invested in their team’s success.—
Bob Helbig,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One reason why feeling a connection with nature may be linked to well-being is that nature connectedness fosters mindfulness – the ability to be present and attentive.—
Lea Barbett,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encourages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourages. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
